Ronan first dug out Little Yellow Dog, who had been buried by the Desert during the previous chaotic battle, and then gave Tilus Sandavici's remaining bird head to Little Yellow Dog.
Earlier, at the critical moment of his advancement, it was thanks to Little Yellow Dog's warning that Ronan had a slight defense against Tilus Sandavici's sudden attack.
This bird head, carrying a mask and containing half of Tilus Sandavici's spiritual pressure, was Ronan's reward for him.
Little Yellow Dog joyfully walked towards the enormous bird head, and then a faint yellow spiritual pressure emanated from his body, stirring up a cloud of dust. As the dust settled, what came into view was an incredibly majestic, dark yellow giant dog, three meters tall and over eight meters long, which swallowed the massive bird head in one gulp.
This was Little Yellow Dog's true form. He had followed Ronan, hunting various Hollows. Although he only received scraps each time, it was enough for him to grow rapidly. Now, he was no longer the weak Freshman Hollow he was when he first met Ronan, but a powerful Hollow. Now, having obtained Tilus Sandavici's head, becoming a Giant Hollow was just around the corner.
After digesting Tilus Sandavici's head, Little Yellow Dog transformed back into his Little Yellow Dog form, happily wagging his non-existent tail at Ronan.
"With my current strength, Tilus Sandavici, who is also a Giant Hollow, is no longer a match for me. Now, it's time for me to go to that place!"
Thinking this, Ronan no longer hesitated. He looked at the Little Yellow Dog in front of him and slowly spoke.
"The place I'm going to next is too dangerous for you. It's time for us to part ways. With your current strength, staying safely in this New Territory is enough for you to protect yourself!"
"Woof woof woof!"
Upon hearing this, Little Yellow Dog let out a series of barks, seemingly filled with reluctance. Ronan bent down and gently stroked Little Yellow Dog's head with a finger, while Little Yellow Dog affectionately licked Ronan's finger.
"Resilient little dog! Live on with effort!"
Ronan waved his hand, bidding farewell to this little dog, which resembled his Little Yellow Dog from his previous life, and then plunged directly into the Desert. The whimpering of Little Yellow Dog could be heard from afar.
However, Ronan paid no mind. The reason he had brought this little dog with him before was, firstly, because seeing it reminded him of his Little Yellow Dog from his previous life, which indeed stirred a hint of compassion in him.
Secondly, he needed this weak Freshman Hollow to help him attract prey. Now that Ronan had already advanced to a Giant Hollow, and his true combat power was comparable to a Hollow, he naturally no longer needed Little Yellow Dog to lure enemies. Moreover, with Little Yellow Dog's current strength, as long as he did not leave the New Territory, there was basically nothing that could threaten his existence.
Therefore, when it was time to part, Ronan did not hesitate in the slightest, after all, Ronan's own grand plan of transcendence was the fundamental priority!
His destination for this trip was precisely the Great Hollow Forest, located at the very bottom of the sand layer!
Ronan had been rushing downwards through the sand layer at the fastest possible speed. Previously, due to insufficient strength, he had only dared to move stealthily on the surface of the sand layer. This was his first time going so deep into the sand layer.
He didn't know how long he had been swimming. Ronan only remembered that he had been continuously descending, yet he still hadn't entered the legendary Great Hollow Forest. If he hadn't deeply understood the original work and known that the Great Hollow Forest was beneath the sand layer, he would have suspected that he had taken the wrong path.
Finally, after Ronan's continuous descent day and night, he finally… could not descend anymore!
"Is this a rock layer?"
Ronan bumped the rock layer in front of him with his large, mask-covered head and found it to be exceptionally solid, making further descent impossible. Ronan, who was already irritable from the long journey, immediately grew impatient and directly unleashed a Cero at the rock layer.
"Bang!"
After a crisp sound, Ronan's entire body lost its balance and plummeted from a high altitude.
During the descent, Ronan glanced at his surroundings. The area was filled with giant tree trunks hundreds of meters tall, and the sky was as dim as ever.
"This is the Great Hollow Forest? I've arrived!"
Ronan hooked a tree trunk with a flick of his tail, steadying his landing.
However, as soon as he landed, he found himself in the middle of a group of Giant Hollows engaged in a fierce battle.
Caught off guard, Ronan was unable to activate Camo in time and thus appeared conspicuously.
"Yo, busy, brothers?"
The group of Giant Hollows, who were fighting fiercely, stopped their battle upon seeing the sudden uninvited guest and began to jointly attack Ronan!
An octopus-shaped Giant Hollow opened its mouth and spat out a corrosive ink at him. Ronan, instead of retreating, advanced, hooking a tree trunk with his tail again to dodge the attack. He then activated Flash Lightning, covering his entire body in lightning arcs, and swung his lightning whip. With a single whip, he sent the octopus Giant Hollow's soul flying, then directly plunged his tail into the octopus Hollow's flesh and activated Soul Eater, completely devouring it.
Although this octopus Hollow was also a Giant Hollow like Ronan, its combat power was far inferior to even Tilus Sandavici, let alone compared to Ronan. It was defeated in a single encounter.
"One down, now it's your turn!"
Ronan sneered, then charged towards the remaining dozen or so Giant Hollows. He was very satisfied with this big gift package he received upon arriving at the Great Hollow Forest; he could have a good feast.